Towards modernity visual arts
Lecture 1
Renaissance artists were aware that they were living in a di erent time, a reborn. Christianity still
the most important religion. Little to no paintings left from the classical times, only academic
papers and sculptures.
Around 1400 renaissance started in orence. It was sparked by a renewed interest in the
classical roman and greek culture and was fueled by wealthy families (Medici) that became
important patrons of art. Dante and Petrarch revived ancient text which lead to an explosion of
art, philosophy (humanism) and lots of innovation that spread through Europe (with the help of the
printing press). Italy was wealthy because of their tradings with Asia and Europe.
Humanism, focus on the human potential and reason resulting focus shift on more than only the
Church. Another result was more realistic artistic styles and competition to get a commission.
Competition for the bronze doors on the south side of the orence baptistery with bible stories.
The sceneries were very realistic, naturalistic and a mix between the gothic and classical style.
Competition was between Filippo brunelleschi and Lorenzo ghiberti, the latter won. His artworks
t better into the available spaces and were cheaper to make.
Filippo Brunelleschi Lorenze Ghiberti Lorenzo Ghiberti Donatello
The sacri ce of Isaac The sacri ce of Isaac Jacob deceiving his The banquet of king
(bronze) (bronze) father Isaac (bronze) Herod
1401 13th century 1401 13th century 1440 13th century 1425 13th century
Florence, Italy Florence, italy Florence, Italy Siena, italy
Jacob deceiving his father Isaac, panel of the eastern portal. Multiple bible stories in one narrative
(often used in medieval art). It does have a great sense of depth and space, wet drapery that
shows the forms of the body (unlike gothic drapery).
Donatello, the banquet of king Herod (1425 siena ), again di erent moments happening in one
narrative and wet drapery. Engaging with linear perspective and is quite precise. It shows a lot
more emotion, the people located in the back are less detailed then the ones in front to create
more depth.
A lot of rivalry between Italian cities, economically and artistically. Driven by power struggles
erupting in larges con icts like between Florence and Sienna and the naval wars between Venice
and Genoa. Fighting for control of trade routes etc. Art used for showing power with architecture,
claim Roman heritage leading to unique styles. Art used for propaganda.
fi fi fl fl flffff
,Donatello Lorenzo Ghiberti Nanni di Banco Donatello
St Marc (marble) St John the Baptist Four saints (marble) St John the Evangelist
(bronze)
1411-13 13th century 1415 13th century 1415 13th century 1410 13th century
Florence, Italy Florence, Italy Florence, Italy Florence, Italy
Lorenzo Ghiberti st john the baptist (1415 orence san Michele) contraposto, hips out to one way
inspired by classical world (shows elegance and order). Lorenzo tried to make as realistic as
possible but some proportions aren’t correct. Drapery with repeating motives. St Marc does look
more realistic with good folds in clothes.
Donatello st marc also use of contraposto but with a lot of mass and heaviness. And the same
holds for st John the evangelist, very massive and heavy. Dontallo took elements from classical
art and used them in his own way. Realism is visible. Proportions look elongated but the statue
was originally placed higher so looking from a lower place the proportions looked realistic.
Nanni di banco, four saints (1415 san michele) he belonged to the quilt that the sculpture was for.
Really similar to classical sculptures, positions, drapery and faces very similar to classical ones.
Bernando Rossellino Luca della Robbia Donatello Antonio del Pollaiuolo
Tomb monument of Madonna with Child and The martyrdom of st Herculus and Antaeus
Leonardo Bruni (marble) Angels (terra-cotta) Lawrence (bronze) (bronze)
fl
,1446-1448 15 century 1455 15 century 1465 15 century 1475-80 15 century
Florence, italy Florence, italy Florence Italy Florence, Italy
Bernardo rosselino tomb monuments of Leonardo Bruni, christians very focused on the afterlife so
it would almost never be ruined (to reuse the marble) because the rest of the death should not be
disturbed therefore a lot of tomb related sculptures remained. Bruni was the chancellor of
Florence and a humanist. The tomb has strong renaissance elements and it has classical
inscriptions more than christian ones.
Very important artist, Luca della robbia (madonna with child and angels) use of new technique of
terracotta and painted and glazed with colors usually only used for plates but robbia turned it into
art. Because of the glaze, the colors remained very good over the years.
Donatello returned to orence again in 1465 where he received a lot of commissions mostly by the
medici family (rich powerful and ruling family of orence) his work develops in a personal way.
More focus on emotion, naturalism, psychological depth and innovative relief techniques.
The martyrdom of st Lawrence on a bronze panel on pulpit, has very raw emotions.
Antonio del pollaiuolo hercules and antaeus (1475) small bronze gure a lot of complexity and
movement going out in space. They learned about anatomy through autopsy even though it was
illegal.
Michelangelo was inspired by donatello and his sculptures (David 1501-4) based on classical
artworks but with more power and energy contained. Also based on donatello. David is the rst
large and nude statue made since antiquity.
Andrea del Verrocchio, Christ and St Thomas, bronze, 1476-83,
Florence Italy in uenced by donatello.
Reading week 1
What was de religious function of religious pictures? For the instruction
of simple, illiterate people who could not read the Bible. To keep the
incarnation and stories of saints active in the brain by seeing them
everyday. To excite feelings of devotion. To learn from a painting what to
adore. It is easier to be devotionally aroused by something you see
rather than hear. There were sometimes fault again theology and good
taste, painters need to be blamed when they paint something di erently
than its supposed to be. Also when they paint stories that are doubtful
even though they can be widely circulated as being true and when they
paint things into a scene that doesn’t belong to compel something other
than devotion like laughter. Three functions for churches paintings were
clear, attractive and memorable and stirring registration of the holy stories. To adapt a theological
distinction, painters were exterior visualizations and the public interior visualization. The best
paintings express their culture directly and complementarily. Sermons, important parts of painters
circumstances. Painter and preacher were co related to each other. 5 spiritual and mental
conditions linked to virgin mary: disquiet, re ection, inquiry, submission and merit.
fl fl fl fl fffi fi
, Lecture 2 painting in 15th century italy
Masaccio Masaccio Masaccio Fra Angelico
Madonna and Child The tribute money Holy Trinity (fresco) Madonna with Child and
(panel) (fresco) saints (panel)
1426 15 century 1427 15th century 1425-26 15 century 1438-1440
Italy Italy Italy Italy
The renewal of paintings started in Florence with much inspiration from Giotto.
Masaccio tried to remake Giottos madonna enthroned, his work madonna and child was more
lifelike and three dimensional and has a bit of architecture in in. The gures realistically take
space, the throne has a lot of volume. The background gures are way less realistic though. But
overall good perspective, personality, good volume.
The tribute money has a continuous narrative composed the scenes in the painting like the order
in which it happened. With the placement It looks like the sculpture from Donatello.
The holy trinity, used geometry with a di cult sense of perspective, a continuous space of where
the viewer is standing which was really advanced and unique. The inscription on the tomb says
one day you will die. The people that are praying underneath the cruci x are the donors of the
painting. Massacio maybe wasn’t appealing for the art commissioners from his time even though
his advanced techniques nowadays.
Massacio was in uential for other painters like Fra Angelico. Madonna with child and saints also
uses an one point perspective where perspective lines collide. But you do not feel a part of the
painting itself like with the holy trinity, it has a pleasing e ect instead, it uses bright and attractive
colours and everything is more subtle and less realistic
fl ffi fiff fi fi
Lecture 1
Renaissance artists were aware that they were living in a di erent time, a reborn. Christianity still
the most important religion. Little to no paintings left from the classical times, only academic
papers and sculptures.
Around 1400 renaissance started in orence. It was sparked by a renewed interest in the
classical roman and greek culture and was fueled by wealthy families (Medici) that became
important patrons of art. Dante and Petrarch revived ancient text which lead to an explosion of
art, philosophy (humanism) and lots of innovation that spread through Europe (with the help of the
printing press). Italy was wealthy because of their tradings with Asia and Europe.
Humanism, focus on the human potential and reason resulting focus shift on more than only the
Church. Another result was more realistic artistic styles and competition to get a commission.
Competition for the bronze doors on the south side of the orence baptistery with bible stories.
The sceneries were very realistic, naturalistic and a mix between the gothic and classical style.
Competition was between Filippo brunelleschi and Lorenzo ghiberti, the latter won. His artworks
t better into the available spaces and were cheaper to make.
Filippo Brunelleschi Lorenze Ghiberti Lorenzo Ghiberti Donatello
The sacri ce of Isaac The sacri ce of Isaac Jacob deceiving his The banquet of king
(bronze) (bronze) father Isaac (bronze) Herod
1401 13th century 1401 13th century 1440 13th century 1425 13th century
Florence, Italy Florence, italy Florence, Italy Siena, italy
Jacob deceiving his father Isaac, panel of the eastern portal. Multiple bible stories in one narrative
(often used in medieval art). It does have a great sense of depth and space, wet drapery that
shows the forms of the body (unlike gothic drapery).
Donatello, the banquet of king Herod (1425 siena ), again di erent moments happening in one
narrative and wet drapery. Engaging with linear perspective and is quite precise. It shows a lot
more emotion, the people located in the back are less detailed then the ones in front to create
more depth.
A lot of rivalry between Italian cities, economically and artistically. Driven by power struggles
erupting in larges con icts like between Florence and Sienna and the naval wars between Venice
and Genoa. Fighting for control of trade routes etc. Art used for showing power with architecture,
claim Roman heritage leading to unique styles. Art used for propaganda.
fi fi fl fl flffff
,Donatello Lorenzo Ghiberti Nanni di Banco Donatello
St Marc (marble) St John the Baptist Four saints (marble) St John the Evangelist
(bronze)
1411-13 13th century 1415 13th century 1415 13th century 1410 13th century
Florence, Italy Florence, Italy Florence, Italy Florence, Italy
Lorenzo Ghiberti st john the baptist (1415 orence san Michele) contraposto, hips out to one way
inspired by classical world (shows elegance and order). Lorenzo tried to make as realistic as
possible but some proportions aren’t correct. Drapery with repeating motives. St Marc does look
more realistic with good folds in clothes.
Donatello st marc also use of contraposto but with a lot of mass and heaviness. And the same
holds for st John the evangelist, very massive and heavy. Dontallo took elements from classical
art and used them in his own way. Realism is visible. Proportions look elongated but the statue
was originally placed higher so looking from a lower place the proportions looked realistic.
Nanni di banco, four saints (1415 san michele) he belonged to the quilt that the sculpture was for.
Really similar to classical sculptures, positions, drapery and faces very similar to classical ones.
Bernando Rossellino Luca della Robbia Donatello Antonio del Pollaiuolo
Tomb monument of Madonna with Child and The martyrdom of st Herculus and Antaeus
Leonardo Bruni (marble) Angels (terra-cotta) Lawrence (bronze) (bronze)
fl
,1446-1448 15 century 1455 15 century 1465 15 century 1475-80 15 century
Florence, italy Florence, italy Florence Italy Florence, Italy
Bernardo rosselino tomb monuments of Leonardo Bruni, christians very focused on the afterlife so
it would almost never be ruined (to reuse the marble) because the rest of the death should not be
disturbed therefore a lot of tomb related sculptures remained. Bruni was the chancellor of
Florence and a humanist. The tomb has strong renaissance elements and it has classical
inscriptions more than christian ones.
Very important artist, Luca della robbia (madonna with child and angels) use of new technique of
terracotta and painted and glazed with colors usually only used for plates but robbia turned it into
art. Because of the glaze, the colors remained very good over the years.
Donatello returned to orence again in 1465 where he received a lot of commissions mostly by the
medici family (rich powerful and ruling family of orence) his work develops in a personal way.
More focus on emotion, naturalism, psychological depth and innovative relief techniques.
The martyrdom of st Lawrence on a bronze panel on pulpit, has very raw emotions.
Antonio del pollaiuolo hercules and antaeus (1475) small bronze gure a lot of complexity and
movement going out in space. They learned about anatomy through autopsy even though it was
illegal.
Michelangelo was inspired by donatello and his sculptures (David 1501-4) based on classical
artworks but with more power and energy contained. Also based on donatello. David is the rst
large and nude statue made since antiquity.
Andrea del Verrocchio, Christ and St Thomas, bronze, 1476-83,
Florence Italy in uenced by donatello.
Reading week 1
What was de religious function of religious pictures? For the instruction
of simple, illiterate people who could not read the Bible. To keep the
incarnation and stories of saints active in the brain by seeing them
everyday. To excite feelings of devotion. To learn from a painting what to
adore. It is easier to be devotionally aroused by something you see
rather than hear. There were sometimes fault again theology and good
taste, painters need to be blamed when they paint something di erently
than its supposed to be. Also when they paint stories that are doubtful
even though they can be widely circulated as being true and when they
paint things into a scene that doesn’t belong to compel something other
than devotion like laughter. Three functions for churches paintings were
clear, attractive and memorable and stirring registration of the holy stories. To adapt a theological
distinction, painters were exterior visualizations and the public interior visualization. The best
paintings express their culture directly and complementarily. Sermons, important parts of painters
circumstances. Painter and preacher were co related to each other. 5 spiritual and mental
conditions linked to virgin mary: disquiet, re ection, inquiry, submission and merit.
fl fl fl fl fffi fi
, Lecture 2 painting in 15th century italy
Masaccio Masaccio Masaccio Fra Angelico
Madonna and Child The tribute money Holy Trinity (fresco) Madonna with Child and
(panel) (fresco) saints (panel)
1426 15 century 1427 15th century 1425-26 15 century 1438-1440
Italy Italy Italy Italy
The renewal of paintings started in Florence with much inspiration from Giotto.
Masaccio tried to remake Giottos madonna enthroned, his work madonna and child was more
lifelike and three dimensional and has a bit of architecture in in. The gures realistically take
space, the throne has a lot of volume. The background gures are way less realistic though. But
overall good perspective, personality, good volume.
The tribute money has a continuous narrative composed the scenes in the painting like the order
in which it happened. With the placement It looks like the sculpture from Donatello.
The holy trinity, used geometry with a di cult sense of perspective, a continuous space of where
the viewer is standing which was really advanced and unique. The inscription on the tomb says
one day you will die. The people that are praying underneath the cruci x are the donors of the
painting. Massacio maybe wasn’t appealing for the art commissioners from his time even though
his advanced techniques nowadays.
Massacio was in uential for other painters like Fra Angelico. Madonna with child and saints also
uses an one point perspective where perspective lines collide. But you do not feel a part of the
painting itself like with the holy trinity, it has a pleasing e ect instead, it uses bright and attractive
colours and everything is more subtle and less realistic
fl ffi fiff fi fi
